Free and effective journalism should be the foundation on which democracy can be maintained

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Democracy is a misnomer for most societies

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Technologically facilitated democracy could increase its effectiveness and help to propagate it

Technology could be the answer for engaging the majority of the population who fail to engage in democracy and arguably contribute to undermining it in democratic states. The resolution of this problem in such states may serve to influence less democratic nations, giving them a road map to democracy. Advances in and use of technologies such as blockchain could amount to making voting as uncomplicated as ordering take away food. Furthermore, changes to the general population voting on issues rather than representatives could revolutionise democratic participation, bringing political issue to individual voters and encouraging direct participation in political issues.

Increasing the level of education, decreasing corruption, increasing political and economic clarity, and calling out bad examples of democracy and praising the good worldwide will have a positive effect on human rights, equality and democracy. Utilising fair democratic international organisations such as the UN or EU to set a good democratic examples and help resolve international issues will also help encourage democracy worldwide. Furthermore, celebrating the principles of democracy and promoting the recognition of positive changes made by states should be a bigger part of this process.

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Free and effective journalism should be the foundation on which democracy can be maintained

A free and open media should be the main bastion of freedom of speech and the protection of democracy, and this needs to be safeguarded in order to maintain not only democracy in societies but also the peace, stability and harmony associated with it. As a result of the wide spread integration of the internet in daily life, the mainstream media has come under attack in many ways in recent years. Fake news, election manipulation and political manoeuvring have seen the credibility of journalism being called into question, but arguably as communication is reorganised in the age of the internet open journalism needs to be protected. A free media provide a public platform to inform society, and debate and question social issues and current affairs openly, calling out human rights abuses, abuses of power and antidemocratic sentiment that may seek to attack the media and public interest.

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Democracy is a misnomer for most societies

Current systems that claim to be democratic are often far from it, democracy should first be established in order to encourage it in any way. Elections are effectively paid for, politicians are not held accountable in any way, which helps to perpetuate more of an unchallengeable oligarchic state. With that in mind to make societies more democratic, the introduction of laws that separate state and private business interests, and state and religion are inevitably pro democratic. Making voting easier and more clear to represent a great demographic of the general public will also help. Politicians should also be held accountable, and they should serve shorter terms if they are found to be under performing by too great a degree.